More Lucy Than June

Yes, I am completely aware of the fact that we’ve been here almost 8 months.

And maybe it’s just the fact that I feel like we’ve quite possibly been cooped up in the house for almost three months. I am told this is the longest winter Charleston has ever seen. (My turn now to jump in on that old “global warming joke” bandwagon. Ready??? “Must be all the global warming!” I know, I know. I am so original….)

But today, the sun shone its gorgeous rays down upon us, and I decided that it was time to get out of the house and PLAY.

We’ve watched enough NickJr and Playhouse Disney to last us until next winter, I’m sure.

My first thought, my first gut reaction to taking a trip outside especially when you live in Charleston was…Let’s go to the beach!!!!

And then I thought better of it. Let’s see…just me + 3 kids + beach (which, by the way, has an ocean that I swear communicates directly to my two girls..”Run to me. Jump in me. With all of your clothes on. It’s okay that you have no change of clothes or that I’m freezing. Throw caution to the wind, little ones.”) = NOT A CHANCE.

Listen, I feel like we’re making progress in the right direction in me being able to handle taking three small ones out on my own, but to say I can take them to the wide open space of a beach? Eh, not so much.

Then I thought, I’ll take ‘em downtown to Battery Park. Nice open space to run and play.

But not really much to keep them “entertained” unless you’re having a picnic. Or a 4th grade historical field trip. Soooo, we’ll skip that.

Then I remembered there was a really cool park near the Citadel downtown. It’s near the water and we have to cross the bridge to get to it…so I’d get the sensation of actually being IN Charleston and not somewhere on the outskirts.

And so off we went. We met up with our friends Danna and Carrie (oh the magic of Twitter and how it can connect you with friends!), and the kids played to their hearts content for a good hour and a half.

But it hit me, as I was standing on the rubbery asphalt surface that is much more friendly to new-toddler-feet than mulch, Oh my word. This is it. This will be the spring, the summer, I have WAITED for for YEARS!

You see, everyone is walking. No one is crawling and therefore picking up nasty junk off the ground to eat. No one relies on The Mom-Cow or a bottle for nourishment anymore. We are all sufficient on juice and crackers for snacks.

This is going to be the EASIEST SUMMER I’ve had in YEARS!!!

And my word…WE’VE MOVED TO CHARLESTON!!!

Last summer, Jack was just 6 months old. Um, and I had back surgery. That didn’t exactly make for “fun mommy” for a few weeks there.

The summer before that, I was nasty-early-stage preggo and Caia STILL wasn’t walking.

The year before THAT, Caia was born. In July. Can we say “miserable”?

(When I write it all out like that, I think…Good heavens! No wonder I’m so tired all the time!)

But THIS spring, THIS summer…this is the year we take Charleston by storm!

Look out C-town! The Parris kids are taking over!

….And then, we’re taking naps.